MEMBERS of a peace council created by Philippine President Benigno S. Aquino III to raise public awareness on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law are buckling down to work after holding their first meeting this week in the capital city of Manila.

“The hard work begins after the BBL is passed,” former Supreme Court Justice Hilario Davide Jr. said in his opening statement to the council composed of Catholic bishops, businessmen, civil society leaders, and peace advocates.

Aquino announced the creation of the council in his address to the nation on March 27, more than two months after the Mamasapano incident that claimed the lives of 44 operatives of the PNP-Special Action Force, 17 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, and at least eight civilians.

Click on photo to read full report on creation of the peace council on Inquirer.net.

The police-led operation, codenamed Oplan Exodus, aimed to kill or capture three foreign-trained bombmakers who were in the most-wanted list of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. It triggered armed clashes among the SAF, MILF forces and other armed group in violation of the ceasefire agreement between the government and the MILF.

Click on photo to read full speech of the President on March 27 during the anniversary of the first year of the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

The resulting furor over the incident has raised serious doubts over the BBL that would provide the framework for autonomy in the Muslim south. Some lawmakers who sponsored the bill withdrew their support for it after the incident.

The convenors organized four clusters that will lead discussions on the following topics, according to a press statement from the Citizen Peace Council: 1) constitutionality and forms and powers of government, to be chaired by Chief Justice Davide; 2) Justice, including social justice, and human development, to be co-chaired by former Ambassador Howard Dee and Honey Sumndad-Usman; 3) Economy and Patrimony, to be chaired by Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala; and 4) Human Security.

Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala | Photo from wikipedia.org

Ayala said the Council intends to help the public understand what is at stake in the BBL, identify the contentions issues over the measure and “and help find a path towards reconciling divergent views.”

Dee reminded council members in his closing statement: “Our overarching goal is peace with justice and development in Muslim Mindanao: a political peace settlement that addresses the injustices inflicted on the Bangsamoro religious, cultural and political identity as a people, as after all, they had their political identity before there was a Philippine nation; the human development of the Bangsamoro people by restoring their human rights and freedom to reverse their economic and social marginalization which has resulted in their human poverty level that is about twice the national average; a process of cultural and spiritual healing to overcome the deep-seated prejudices that continue to divide our people.”

The four clusters will be holding in-depth sessions in the coming days and are expected to finish discussions on April 18.